"You have lost it by the way," said he, "and pray what is that which
jingles in your pocket, barefaced liar that you are?
jingles in your pocket, barefaced liar that you are?
Pushkin - Daughter of the Commandant
It was to start with all speed for Orenburg, so as to hasten the
recapture of Belogorsk, and to aid in it if possible.
I took leave of the pope and of Akoulina Pamphilovna, recommending
warmly to them her whom I already regarded as my wife. I seized the hand
of the young girl and covered it with tears and kisses.
"Good-bye," the pope's wife said to me, as she led me away. "Good-bye,
Petr' Andrejitch; perhaps we may meet again in happier times. Don't
forget us, and write often to us. Except you, poor Marya Ivanofna has no
longer stay or comforter. "
Out in the Square I stopped a minute before the gallows, which I
respectfully saluted, and I then took the road to Orenburg, accompanied
by Saveliitch, who did not forsake me.
As I thus went along, deep in thought, I heard all at once a horse
galloping behind me. I turned round, and saw a Cossack coming up from
the fort, leading a Bashkir horse, and making signs to me from afar to
wait for him. I stopped, and soon recognized our "_ouriadnik_. "
After joining us at a gallop, he jumped from the back of his own horse,
and handing me the bridle of the other--
"Your lordship," said he, "our father makes you a present of a horse,
and a pelisse from his own shoulder. " On the saddle was slung a plain
sheepskin "_touloup_. " "And, besides," added he, hesitatingly, "he gives
you a half-rouble, but I have lost it by the way; kindly excuse it. "
Saveliitch looked askance at him.
"You have lost it by the way," said he, "and pray what is that which
jingles in your pocket, barefaced liar that you are? "
"Jingling in my pocket? " replied the "_ouriadnik_," not a whit
disconcerted; "God forgive you, old man, 'tis a bridlebit, and never a
half rouble. "
"Well! well! " said I, putting an end to the dispute. "Thank from me he
who sent you: and you may as well try as you go back to find the lost
half rouble and keep it for yourself. "
"Many thanks, your lordship," said he, turning his horse round; "I will
pray God for ever for you. "
With these words, he started off at a gallop, keeping one hand on his
pocket, and was soon out of sight. I put on the "_touloup_" and mounted
the horse, taking up Saveliitch behind me.
"Don't you see, your lordship," said the old man, "that it was not in
vain that I presented my petition to the robber? The robber was ashamed
of himself, although this long and lean Bashkir hoss and this peasant's
'_touloup_' be not worth half what those rascals stole from us, nor what
you deigned to give him as a present, still they may be useful to us.
'From an evil dog be glad of a handful of hairs. '"
CHAPTER X.
THE SIEGE.
As we approached Orenburg we saw a crowd of convicts with cropped heads,
and faces disfigured by the pincers of the executioner.